On Improvement in Variance Estimation Using Auxiliary Information

Kadilar and Cingi (2006 Kadilar , C. , Cingi , H. ( 2006 ). Improvement in variance estimation using auxiliary information . Hacett. J. Math. Statist. 35 ( 1 ): 111 – 115 . [Google Scholar]) have introduced an estimator for the population variance using an auxiliary variable in simple random sampling. We propose a new ratio-type exponential estimator for population variance which is always more efficient than usual ratio and regression estimators suggested by Isaki (1983 Isaki , C. T. ( 1983 ). Variance estimation using auxiliary information . J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 78 : 117 – 123 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and by Kadilar and Cingi (2006 Kadilar , C. , Cingi , H. ( 2006 ). Improvement in variance estimation using auxiliary information . Hacett. J. Math. Statist. 35 ( 1 ): 111 – 115 . [Google Scholar]). Efficiency comparison is carried out both mathematically and numerically.     

Confidence Bounds and Hypothesis Tests for Normal Distribution Coefficients of Variation

For normally distributed populations, we obtain confidence bounds on a ratio of two coefficients of variation, provide a test for the equality of k coefficients of variation, and provide confidence bounds on a coefficient of variation shared by k populations.     

Saddlepoint Approximation for the Distribution of the Modified Signed Root of Likelihood Ratio Statistics Near the Mean

The Tracy-Singh product, which can be viewed as generalized Kronecher product, is studied and used widely in matrix theory and statistics. Therefore, some well-known Kantorovich inequalities are generalized to Tracy-Singh product in this article. Furthermore, some applications to statistics are presented.     

Empirical Likelihood Method for Censored Median Regression Models

Based on the semiparametric median regression analysis for the right-censored data developed by Ying et al. (1995 Ying , Z. , Jung , S. H. , Wei , L. J. ( 1995 ). Survival analysis with median regression models . J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 90 : 178 – 184 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), an empirical likelihood based inferential procedure for the regression coefficients is proposed. The limiting distribution of the proposed log-empirical likelihood ratio test statistic follows a chi-squared distribution, which corresponds to the standard asymptotic results of the empirical likelihood method. The inference about the subsets of the entire regression coefficients vector is discussed. The proposed method is illustrated by some simulation studies.     

Testing for Covariate Effect in the Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Model

This article presents methods for testing covariate effect in the Cox proportional hazards model based on Kullback–Leibler divergence and Renyi's information measure. Renyi's measure is referred to as the information divergence of order γ (γ ≠ 1) between two distributions. In the limiting case γ → 1, Renyi's measure becomes Kullback–Leibler divergence. In our case, the distributions correspond to the baseline and one possibly due to a covariate effect. Our proposed statistics are simple transformations of the parameter vector in the Cox proportional hazards model, and are compared with the Wald, likelihood ratio and score tests that are widely used in practice. Finally, the methods are illustrated using two real-life data sets.     

A Unified Approach to Likelihood Inference on Linear Inequality Constraints in Contingency Tables

In contingency table analysis, a likelihood ratio test for linear inequality constraints is discussed. The restriction condition considered in this article is much more general than usual stochastic order restriction conditions. Asymptotic property of test statistic is shown. Simulation study is conducted to compare the empirical power and size performed via the proposed method and others. Several real data sets are used to illustrate our theoretical result. The idea used in this article can be applied to test the problems with nonlinear inequality constraints.     

Ordering New Conditional Residual Lifetimes of k-out-of-n Systems

This article introduces a new residual life of (n ? k + 1)-out-of-n systems consisting of n independent and identically distributed components, given that the total number of failures of components is not less than l at time t, and the system is still working. Some stochastic comparisons of residual lifetimes are conducted, and behaviors of DLR and ILR are given.     

On the Allocation of General Standby Redundancy to Series and Parallel Systems

This article studies series and parallel systems with two independent components. Optimal allocation of one redundancy to a parallel system and that of two redundancies to a series one are derived, respectively.     

A Practical Procedure to Find Matching Priors for Frequentist Inference

We present a practical way to find matching priors via the use of saddlepoint approximations and obtain p-values of tests of an interest parameter in the presence of nuisance parameters. The advantages of our procedure are the flexibility in choosing different initial conditions so that one may adjust the performance of a test, and the less intensive computational efforts compared to a Markov Chain Monto Carlo method.     

Third-order likelihood-based inference for the log-normal regression model

This paper examines the general third-order theory to the log-normal regression model. The interest parameter is its conditional mean. For inference, traditional first-order approximations need large sample sizes and normal-like distributions. Some specific third-order methods need the explicit forms of the nuisance parameter and ancillary statistic, which are quite complicated. Note that this general third-order theory can be applied to any continuous models with standard asymptotic properties. It only needs the log-likelihood function. With small sample settings, the simulation studies for confidence intervals of the conditional mean illustrate that the general third-order theory is much superior to the traditional first-order methods.